There IS one on my Christmas List - "Unearth". That looks like it's a pretty fun game, but I doubt that it would be 'Top 10' material...possible top 25 material, though. If I decide at some point to pick up 'Terraforming Mars', that looks (at first glance) like it could have the makings of a top ten game in my book. But as of now, I don't think it would make it to the table enough to warrant my investment.

"there are many ways you can pay your rent, but that’s not really who you are, and the rest of the time you can polish a little part of your mind until it’s bright enough for someone else to notice." - Jerry Holkins

oh, yeah. Unearth, TEQ, and Lisboa all made it to my "Top X" list. yup, i'm X-ing those and i regret giving into the hype. so glad i played GH and TI:4 before i made a similar mistake.

oh, don't get me wrong! those might still be good games for you. it's just been an eye-opening year for me as far as settling into my taste in boardgames goes. a real "eyes bigger than my plate," cult of the new, and impulse-buy kickstarters coming home to roost situation.

Looking at getting 18Ireland soon. I got 18CZ a few weeks ago but haven't had a chance to play it. I also just got Pendragon: The Fall of Roman Britain a couple days ago and haven't had a chance to play that either. Those I may pull a "oscars" rule and state if they come after essen, it's 2018 season.

My Top "x" games need 3-5 plays to be eligible depending on the list, so some of them will depend on that. Gloomhaven, Clank in Space(grouped with Clank), Clans of Caledonia, Codenames: Duet(merged with Codenames), Too Many Bones, Ethnos, and Spirit Island are ones I think have some chance although as along as I'm doing a Top 50, Too Many Bones and Ethnos will likely sit out while being rather good. Definite Top 100 after 3 plays though. A number of others could make it if I had easier access to them. So genuinely new games seems to be about three.

I REALLY want to try Azul, but I can't justify buying any games right now. Some day...

Not trying to be an ass but wasn't Great Western Trail was a 2016 release. It was definitely one of my favourites from that year.

Century: Spice RoadCharterstoneMagic MazeSpirit Island

These are the only four games I have in my possession that came out this year. I just got Charterstone and Spirit Island in the mail so they haven't been played yet but I guess they may pose a threat. Century is pretty good but hasn't blown my mind. Magic Maze is awesome!. It has cracked the top 10 but maybe the top 20. My gaming group is my immediate family so really fun, quick, and simple games can rate highly if they are done right.

So far only one or two depending on how you count. Definitely Lisboa, and also I really enjoy Lignum (second edition) but I don't know how new editions should work with regard to the quality of a year, especially since first edition was already just as great and the changes were just art and adding a small expansion (and availability, which is maybe the most important thing).

But I haven't played anything from Essen yet. Granted two of the ones I'm most excited for are Wildcatters and Kepler-3042, both of which are reprints, but I also really want to try Agra, Heaven & Ale, Gentes, Otys, and maybe a few others I can't think of. And hopefully at least some of those crack my top tier of games. And I'll probably play Gaia Project and like it quite a bit as it looks to be very similar to Terra Mystica which is currently sitting at 16 for me. The question is just whether it's different enough for me to want it, which is why I'm not as hyped as I am for the games listed above.

But overall I agree that this year seems like it was a lot stronger than 2016, even before playing anything from Essen.

Koneko: A PvP worker placement game set in a very Feline Feudal Japan........

Celtic Connection Games

Charterstone has now taken its place as my GotY and GoaT, displacing Outlive which is now 2nd in both categories. Despite concerns with a couple of things, Fallout is easily top 20 of all time (not sure sxactly where), Jump Drive is my number 3 GotY.

I can't remember what else I've played from this year but either way 2017 has had a major impact on my lists.